How alcohol affects blood sugar

Why drinks can cause both highs and lows, the best and worst alcoholic choices for diabetics, and safer drinking strategies.

Written by

Carb Lens Editorial

Nutrition writers & product team

Medically reviewed by

Dr. Alicia Nguyen, RD, CDCES

Registered Dietitian · Certified Diabetes Care & Education Specialist · 12+ years clinical experience

Published June 20, 2026 4 min readEditorial policy

Alcohol's effect on blood sugar is one of the trickiest topics in diabetes. It can cause highs and lows — sometimes in the same night.

Why it's confusing

**Sweet drinks** (margaritas, daiquiris, dessert wines) cause immediate highs from sugar
**All alcohol** blocks the liver from releasing stored glucose for 8–12 hours, causing delayed lows
Lows can hit at 3 AM after a few drinks at dinner

Best low-carb choices

Drink	Net carbs
Vodka, gin, whiskey, tequila (straight or with soda water)	0g
Light beer (Michelob Ultra, Miller Lite)	2–3g
Dry red wine (5 oz)	3–4g
Dry white wine (5 oz)	3–4g
Dry champagne (5 oz)	1g

Worst choices

Drink	Net carbs
Margarita	30–40g
Piña colada	50g+
Mojito	15–20g
Regular beer (12 oz)	12–15g
Sweet dessert wine (5 oz)	18g+
Long Island iced tea	30g+

Safer drinking with diabetes

**Never drink on an empty stomach** — eat first
**Hydrate**: water between drinks
**Check glucose before bed** — if under 100 mg/dL, eat a small snack
**Set an alarm for 3 AM** if you've had more than 2 drinks
**Tell whoever you're with** that severe lows can look like drunkenness
**Carry glucose tabs** in your purse/wallet

A note on type 1

Alcohol significantly raises hypo risk for hours. Many type 1s reduce basal insulin overnight after drinking. Coordinate with your endocrinologist.

About the author

Carb Lens Editorial — Nutrition writers & product team. The Carb Lens editorial team writes practical, source-checked guides on carbs, blood sugar, and everyday nutrition. Every article is drafted by our writers and cross-referenced against USDA FoodData Central and peer-reviewed clinical guidelines.

How we source and review this article

Nutrition figures come from the USDA FoodData Central database. Blood-sugar and glycemic-load framing follows guidance from the American Diabetes Association and World Health Organization healthy-diet recommendations. Every article is medically reviewed by Dr. Alicia Nguyen, RD, CDCES before publishing and re-checked on a rolling basis. See our full editorial & medical review policy.

This article is for general information and is not a substitute for medical advice. If you're managing diabetes or another condition, always defer to your care team.